The Miami Heat's three-year run of NBA Finals appearances and back-to-back championships may be a source of consternation for opponents. But the Big Three is good for business throughout the league. Three of the five priciest tickets for the upcoming season feature the Heat as visitor. The Heat's Christmas Day showdown with the Lakers in Los Angeles has the highest median ticket price currently on the secondary market at $479, according to Vivid Seats. Second is the Heat at New York on Feb. 1 at $399.

MIAMI GARDENS - Santa stood outside Sun Life Stadium in red T-shirt and shorts two hours before Monday night's BCS showdown hoping his wish would come true. "Santa needs one ticket. It's been a hard year," said Fred Huff, who takes his Bama Santa act on the road whenever his beloved Crimson Tide plays a big game. Think that other Santa had a long journey recently? Huff drove from Albuquerque, N.M., to South Florida without any assurance of getting in to Monday's game. The getup always attracts attention, topped with the Bear Bryant houndstooth hat. Requests to pose for photos were nonstop, including plenty of Notre Dame fans.

Score uber hot tickets to NBA All-Star Events in Orlando in an American Express advance ticket sale on Friday on Ticketmaster.com. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday. Starting at 10 a.m., get tickets to Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 2012 NBA All-Star Jam Sessions at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Just pay with your American Express card. A $23.05 tickets gets you wall-to-wall b-ball action. Fans can shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day, compete in skills challenges and get free autographs from NBA players past and present.

When the 2010-11 NBA schedule was released this summer, fans figuratively circled Christmas Day on their calendars for what's been billed as a potential NBA Finals matchup between the Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. Judging from the brisk sales and lofty ticket prices on the secondary sales market, it's also the hottest ticket of the season. Sales prices on StubHub.com have ranged from $106 to $2,974 with an average sales price of $552. The average price for the Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Lakers last Christmas Day averaged $417, StubHub spokeswoman Joellen Ferrer said.

Politically speaking, Miami Book Fair International is a nonpartisan event. Nevertheless, organizers had a hunch that tickets to Sunday's speaking engagement by former President George W. Bush would be in extreme demand after Republicans enjoyed a banner day in last week's election. "We suspected this could happen," said Miami Dade College spokesman Juan Mendieta after tickets sold out within minutes on Monday, causing the system to crash. "Given the buzz, I'm not surprised.

OK, several hot tickets. Not exactly a newsflash here, but with the full NBA schedule now released, there's even more evidence of what a popular ticket the Three Kings-led Miami Heat have become. According to ticket search engine, FanSnap.com, the average ticket price on the secondary market for last year's Heat home opener against the New York Knicks at AmericanAirlines Arena was $116. This year's Oct. 29 opener versus the Orlando Magic? Try $805. The website says the average price for the highly-anticipated Christmas Day matchup when the Heat travel to Los Angeles to take on the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers is already at $717.

By Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel Chita Rivera is NOT late. Legends are never late. They just haven't arrived yet. Perhaps everyone else is early. Or maybe the gravitational pull of their star power is so strong it tugs at the Earth's orbit, altering time for a moment or two. So as the appointed hour for our telephone interview comes and goes, panic sets in. Will the iconic Broadway star come through or … no, it's too horrific to even contemplate.

You might call it "Octoberfash." >>The social season is off to a sizzling start this month with several multi-day fashion show events. >>We break down the major catwalk capers for you here, so you can get to any or all of these events. >>But for more, check out the online fashion calendar at SunSentinel.com/fashionblog or get updates through @FashionDude on Twitter. >>More looks, Page 7 INFORMATIONAL BOX: Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach When: Oct. 14-17 The spot: The Setai Hotel, 2001 Collins Ave., and Bass Museum of Art, 2121 Park Ave. The cost: Free for first 100 who RSVP What's happening: Launched in 2003, this is the 13th season for the biannual event, which fuses music, art and fashions from the collections of designers such as Custo Barcelona, Nicole Miller and Abi Ferrin.